Latest Atlanta coronavirus news: 44 COVID-19 deaths since noon

Georgia confirms 25,634 coronavirus cases, 1,095 deaths

Gov. Brian Kemp defended his handling of Georgia’s coronavirus outbreak on Monday, lashing out at the news media and others who questioned his decision to reopen segments of the state’s economy.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is committed to providing our readers with the most comprehensive coverage of the deadly coronavirus.

This blog will be updated throughout Wednesday, April 29, with news and details of COVID-19 in Georgia.

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7 p.m.: 

6:15 p.m.: Los Angeles-based CORE Response and the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation on Thursday plan to open a coronavirus testing site at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, J. Scott Trubey reports.

5:30 p.m.: Nearly 400 workers in Georgia's prized poultry industry have tested positive for the disease caused by the coronavirus, and one has died from his illness, according to Georgia Department of Public Health statistics obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Noon: 

10 a.m.: Cobb County and Marietta high school seniors will have to wait a little longer to celebrate one of the most important milestones in their lives, Kristal Dixon reports, as both school systems postpone graduation ceremonies.

7:30 a.m.: Greg Bluestein reports that Gov. Brian Kemp is expected to decide today whether to extend a shelter in place order that's set to expire Thursday night or ease the mandate as he continues to rollback coronavirus restrictions.

6:30 a.m.: On Monday, Georgia passed 1,000 deaths.Or maybe it didn't. Within hours, the state Department of Public Health said on its website the death toll was actually 995. Or maybe it was 982, based on a county-by-county count DPH also published. Willoughby Mariano explains how the differences are confusing people.

» Coronavirus in Georgia: stats in real time

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